10-22-2010, 09:30 PM
Narcotics raids close Beach Park tavern
View Gallery Cruisers Bar and Grill in Beach Park has been closed following a yearlong narcotics investigation and three raids this week that involved multiple police jurisdictions.
Three people were arrested, including the son of the owner, and cocaine, cash and a gun were recovered in the execution of search warrants Thursday, two in Beach Park and one in Zion.
Beach Park Mayor Milton Jensen thanked law enforcement officials because Cruisers, 38298 Sheridan Road, had become a headache for the village.
âThis particular establishment has been nothing but a problem for the village of Beach Park for a long time. I have personally, as liquor commissioner, held many hearings in an attempt to bring them in line, but to no avail,â Jensen said.
âI revoked their license in one instance, and it was reinstated by the Illinois Liquor Commission,â he said.
Arrested after police raided their homes Thursday were Ryan Padron, 28, of 38420 Manor Ave., Beach Park, son of tavern owner Raul Padron, and Shane Colella, 29, of 2112 Lewis Ave., Zion.
At Padronâs house, police seized 20.6 grams of cocaine, 15.4 grams of marijuana and $4,010.34 in cash. At the Colella house, police recovered a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun, 22 grams of cocaine, scales with cocaine residue, and $2,675 in cash. At Cruisers, police seized $1,300 in cash and found a small amount of cocaine residue in the womenâs washroom.
Padron and Colella were both charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class X felony.
Donald M. Hart-Reyes, who resides with Padron, was also charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Padronâs bond was set at $200,000. Colellaâs was set at $50,000, and Hart-Reyes was set at $100,000, officials said. All three remained in Lake County Jail on Friday. The operation involved the Lake County Sheriff, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Zion Police Department. Executing the search warrants involved about 70 agents and officers, with help from the Waukegan, Mundelein, Wauconda, North Chicago, Round Lake Beach, Lindenhurst police departments, federal immigration enforcement (ICE), Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition, Lake County Gang Crimes Task Force and the Lake County Stateâs Attorneyâs Office.
âI am very pleased with the hard work and strong cooperation we shared with all agencies involved in this operation,â said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.
Jensen said, âI want to personally thank the sheriff and all of those who assisted him in his effort to help us eliminate this blight in our community.â
View Gallery Cruisers Bar and Grill in Beach Park has been closed following a yearlong narcotics investigation and three raids this week that involved multiple police jurisdictions.
Three people were arrested, including the son of the owner, and cocaine, cash and a gun were recovered in the execution of search warrants Thursday, two in Beach Park and one in Zion.
Beach Park Mayor Milton Jensen thanked law enforcement officials because Cruisers, 38298 Sheridan Road, had become a headache for the village.
âThis particular establishment has been nothing but a problem for the village of Beach Park for a long time. I have personally, as liquor commissioner, held many hearings in an attempt to bring them in line, but to no avail,â Jensen said.
âI revoked their license in one instance, and it was reinstated by the Illinois Liquor Commission,â he said.
Arrested after police raided their homes Thursday were Ryan Padron, 28, of 38420 Manor Ave., Beach Park, son of tavern owner Raul Padron, and Shane Colella, 29, of 2112 Lewis Ave., Zion.
At Padronâs house, police seized 20.6 grams of cocaine, 15.4 grams of marijuana and $4,010.34 in cash. At the Colella house, police recovered a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun, 22 grams of cocaine, scales with cocaine residue, and $2,675 in cash. At Cruisers, police seized $1,300 in cash and found a small amount of cocaine residue in the womenâs washroom.
Padron and Colella were both charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class X felony.
Donald M. Hart-Reyes, who resides with Padron, was also charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Padronâs bond was set at $200,000. Colellaâs was set at $50,000, and Hart-Reyes was set at $100,000, officials said. All three remained in Lake County Jail on Friday. The operation involved the Lake County Sheriff, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Zion Police Department. Executing the search warrants involved about 70 agents and officers, with help from the Waukegan, Mundelein, Wauconda, North Chicago, Round Lake Beach, Lindenhurst police departments, federal immigration enforcement (ICE), Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition, Lake County Gang Crimes Task Force and the Lake County Stateâs Attorneyâs Office.
âI am very pleased with the hard work and strong cooperation we shared with all agencies involved in this operation,â said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.
Jensen said, âI want to personally thank the sheriff and all of those who assisted him in his effort to help us eliminate this blight in our community.â